What’s your favorite fruit? I love berries. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries––they’re all right up there on my list of fav’s. Especially when the berries are home grown and perfectly ripe––wow! There’s nothing sweeter.

But it’s not easy growing fruit.

I fertilize the soil and carefully water the little plants. Finally fruit begins to show. I wait with great expectation for the berries to ripen. And as soon as they’re ready to pick––POOF! They’re gone! I’m not the only one who loves fresh berries. Birds, bears, rabbits, and raccoons do too.

My love and struggle for berries may not tell a lot about me, but for those of us pursuing Christ, there is fruit in our life that speaks volumes: fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the characteristics of people who are surrendered to and guided by the Holy Spirit. And if someone is overflowing with this kind of fruit, they’re living a full and exuberant life, even in the midst of trials!

How do we get fruit of the Spirit to grow in our life?

It’s like me trying to grow berries. First we have to start with good soil. The soil for the Spirit’s fruit is our heart and mind. Are we open to God, the reconciliation Jesus provides, and the power of His Holy Spirit? Do we listen to His Word, believe it and begin to apply it in our life? This is how we provide good soil for the seeds God is planting in us.

We then fertilize and water God’s seeds with Truth. How? By feeding on the Word of God––reading it, memorizing it, meditating on it, praying it. As we learn more about God and as we grow in our relationship with Him, the fruit of His Spirit grows in us. He begins to transform us in the midst of our everyday choices and everyday life. We can feel His fruit inside us. And those around us can see it too: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If this is the kind of fruit we have in our life, then feeling fruity is a good thing, and a God thing!

A few closing thoughts…

• Everyone’s life produces something.
• We can’t force fruit to grow.
• When our life is full of good fruit, the weeds and pests of the sinful life can’t take root or steal our fruit.
• What we can do is offer our heart and mind as good soil, and then immerse ourselves in the Living Water that feeds and nourishes God’s seeds planted in our soul.

May the fruit of the Spirit grow and flourish as you open your heart and mind to God’s Truth and the power of His Holy Spirit living in you.

(If you’re interested in reading more about the soil of our heart and mind, read the parable of the sower in Mark 4:1-20)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Let’s Talk: Which fruit of the Spirit would you most like to see God grow in your life?

May I pray?

Holy Spirit, we don’t often direct our prayers to You, but today we come to You on our knees. Help us to unlock the hidden places of our heart and mind as we open up to You. Fill us with Your strength as we take a step toward new life. Fertilize and water our souls as we immerse ourselves in Your Truth. May Your beautiful fruit adorn our life as a testament to Your power to transform us. And may we overflow with Your fruit as we rise above our real life circumstances and walk forward each day with You and sisters in Christ. Amen.